A practical method for large scale synthesis of 1-arylnaphthalene and 1-aryl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene lignans is described. The method makes use of the classic Stobbe condensation followed by regioselective reactions that provide access to both the common and retrolactone lignans, e.g., 2 and 3. A total of 25 compounds, many of which are known natural products, were prepared and their antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus measured.